Mrs. Beverly Mable enjoyed a night out with The Blind Boys of Alabama.

I will never forget going to Alabama to see all the Champion family when I was a kid.  I was astounded by all the cousins I had.  Everyone just as funny as the next.  But Beverly always stood out in my memory.  

We were all sitting around the dining room table at Aunt Lurline's (I think).  I had just met Beverly and Pam and several others that day so I was slightly overwhelmed for a young boy.  I was a stranger to a bunch of cousins I never knew I had!  

As the adults were all sitting around and talking and us kids lingering around, Beverly asked me to come over to her and she says out load and in front of everyone, "You know, you are just too pretty to be a boy!".

I was mortified!   I was ready to crawl under the table.  My mom (Ann), aunts, uncles, cousins all started howling with laughter!  And she said it again...  She was adamant!  

I just wanted to get away from there and by this time she was hugging on me and wouldn't let me go.  

And if things could get any worse, there's Pam... pinching my cheeks.

And she did that... every time she saw me for the rest of the trip.

As embarrassed as I was at the time, when I always think back to that moment all I can do is laugh and think how funny she was.

I only got to talk to her a few times in the last decade.  But we had some great conversations.  She was a joy to talk to and made me feel like I was just as close and loved as the rest of the family as if I was there.

I will always cherish the moments I had with Beverly.

Love, Jason